Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas investigated as possible terrorism

By Shirleen Guerra
The Center Square

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in the death of the driver and injuries to seven bystanders. Authorities are investigating the possibility it was terrorism-related.

The explosion, which occurred just before 9 a.m. on New Year's Day near the hotel's main entrance, sent debris flying, damaging the entrance and nearby areas.

Jeremy Schwartz, the acting F.B.I. special agent in charge in Las Vegas, said the department was investigating the explosion to determine if it was an act of terrorism or not.

"I know everybody's interested in that word and trying to see if we can say, 'Hey, this is a terrorist attack,'" said Schwartz. "That is our goal, and that's what we're trying to do."

Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department at a press conference said the explosion was an isolated event and confirmed the vehicle was rented in Colorado through Turbo, a car-renting app.

"I have to thank Elon Musk specifically. He gave us quite a bit of additional information in regards to how the vehicle was locked after it exploded due to the nature of the force from the explosion," McMahill said.

Musk, who is closely working with President-elect Donald Trump, took to his platform to address the choice of vehicle used in the explosion.

"The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards. Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken." Musk wrote on X.

Musk confirmed the explosions were caused by large fireworks or bombs, not the vehicle itself.

McMahill stated that they know who rented the vehicle and are looking into the individual, but they are not ready to release further information about the driver at this time.

The agencies confirmed they were looking into the connections between both the explosion and the truck that plowed into a crowd of people celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street early Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35.

Both vehicles used in these attacks were rented through Turo, another coincidence the sheriff said will be investigated. 

The sheriff stated that there had been no indications to connect the explosion to ISIS at the time, as the driver in the New Orleans attack was.